10 Strange Laws Abroad

We're all heard about the ridiculous, archaic laws here, stuff about shooting bison from trains and grazing your cows on Boston Common and so forth. But it's imperative to be aware of completely useless laws in other parts of the world, in case you should happen to travel there and find yourself in a really, really unlikely situation. So, here are some stupid laws you may need to know when you go abroad:

1. Australia - It is illegal to roam the streets wearing black clothes, felt shoes and black shoe polish on your face as these items are the tools of a cat burglar.

2. France - Between the hours of 8AM and 8PM, 70% of the music in the radio must be by French composers.

3. Thailand - It is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear (This unfortunately may be a slight issue for some of my dearest friends).

4. Italy - It is an offence for women of 'ill repute or evil looks' to enter a cheese factory in the area of Ferrara.

5. Scotland - It is illegal to be a drunk while in possession of a cow.... again, I'm worried.

6. France - It is illegal in Antibes to take photos of police officers or police vehicles, even if they are just in the background.

7. Lebanon - Men are legally allowed to have sex with animals so long as the animals are female. It is illegal to have sex with a male animal.

8. China - Women are prohibited from walking around a hotel room in the nude. A woman may only be naked whilst in the bathroom. (this can't possibly be followed)

BUT, my personal favorite--

9. In Hong Kong, a woman is legally allowed to kill her cheating husband, only if she uses her bare hands. The husband's lover however may be killed in any manner desired.

http://www.gadling.com/2008/12/01/top-10-stupidest-laws-you-may-encounter-abroad/?icid=200100397x1214581367x1200903466

Getting Someone's Coffee? Sexist?

My monthly "legal" entry here for you... Now, have you heard about the case of Tamara Klopfenstein? Ms. Klopfenstein was hired to be a receptionist/data entry clerk. After working for a few weeks, her (male) bosses asked her to get their coffee for them. She declined, and her manager e-mailed her, saying: "This is not open for debate. Please don’t make an easy task a big deal." Klopfenstein felt that getting coffee "reinforced outdated gender stereotypes," so the next day, when she was asked to get coffee again, she sent an e-mail that read: "I don't expect to serve and wait on you by making and serving you coffee every day." Nine minutes later, she was fired.

Klopfenstein promptly sued the company for sexual discrimination and sexual harassment. The judge ruled: "The act of getting coffee is not, by itself, a gender-specific act," and dismissed the case. But Klopfenstein's attorneys argue that "Some tasks are inherently more offensive to women." As one site points out, "Getting coffee, much like sexualizing women by making them wear short skirts or heels, is undeniably a way that men in male dominated workspaces have demeaned women, putting them in their place as servants or housewives (or sex objects) as opposed to professionals." One one hand, you've got to wonder if a male receptionist would be asked to fetch coffee. On the other hand, don't most jobs include things not listed in the job description?

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202422158304

How Much Is The Trump name worth?

Just how much is the Trump name worth? In a lawsuit filed just around the corner from me, the plaintiff buyers of luxury condominiums say that condos in buildings that carry the Trump name are worth 36 percent more than units in similar building without the name. The lawsuit was brought by around 80 condo buyers who are suing the developers of the Trump Towers complex in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. for using the Trump name to attract buyers. As Law.com reveals, the suit says that Trump's name can only be used temporarily and could be changed once the buildings are completed. Based on this information and a fear that the condos will be worth less without the Trump brand, buyers are asking to cancel sales contracts worth over $100 million and to have around $20 million in deposits returned. The name Trump appeared on the promotional material but not on any of the condo documents or purchase contracts. Donald Trump, who is not named in the suit, has been quoted as saying that he was "honored" by the lawsuit doubtlessly because it backs up his own decades-long campaign to turn his last name into a valuable brand.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202422190611

Courtroom Sodoku

Showing that issues with the jury system are not limited to America, on June 10, a judge in Austrial was forced to declared a mistrial in a high-profile drug-conspiracy case after it was discovered that the jurors spent much of their time in court playing Sudoku. Apparently, everyone assumed the jurors were diligently taking notes until the accuseds noticed they were writing vertically as well as horizontally.

The two men on trial faced life in prison for drug trafficking, and at the time trial was suspended it had already lasted 66 days and cost an estimated $1 million (Australian). Though the stakes were high, the foreman BOLDLY told the judge, the case was awfully dull, and Sudoku, he said, actually helped him with his duties and admitted that up to five jurors were playing Sudoku for at least half the trial.

"Yes, it helps me keep my mind busy paying more attention," he claimed. "Some of the evidence is rather drawn out and I find it difficult to maintain my attention the whole time, and that [i.e., paying attention to something else] doesn't distract me too much from proceedings."

Hey, let's make the jury box like Virgin Airlines -- with Internet at every seat! Then you could really stay busy paying more attention. Makes sense.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/10/sudoku.jury.ap/index.html

Make Partner? Put a Gun To His Head Instead

Wall Street Journal has an interesting post on why, at this time of year, so many lawyers are depressed...and in fact, 1 in 5 lawyers suffer from depression. This video shows a lawyer's less-than-stellar reaction to being advised that he has become a shareholder and his battle with depression....

Paris Stole Your Style? That's NOT Hot

Not to say I'm awesome (oh wait, I am), I have been copied (I was the first kid on the block to wear LA Gear with neon lights)... and on the flip side, I've copied (quite copiously actually). In any event, it's a compliment, right? At least, that's what I always thought...

But apparently, for California woman Nicolle O'Neill, it's not a compliment- it's a LEGAL ACTION. Convinced that Paris Hilton stole her "personal style", she actually filed a lawsuit claiming emotional distress. Contactmusic.com has more: "Two pages of documents spell out specific charges against Hilton, including a claim that she stole O'Neill's idea to expose her underwear under her trousers. O'Neill also claims Paris swiped her idea to shop in vintage stores for retro dresses. Hilton has yet to issue a response to the allegations."

Um... I didn't know wearing underwear was new. And I don't think I've ever seen Paris in something "vintage" looking... I'm now on a mission to find a picture of O'Neill. I actually have this as a wrap shirt, I think Paris is stealing my style too!

http://www.fashionista.com/2007/11/it_should_be_illegal.php

The Ultimate Age Discrimination Suit

I am in simple disbelief... no comment on all the old dudes that have hit on some of my friends and I'm sure anyone reading this!

A 77-year-old man is suing a 19-year-old woman for "age discrimination" after she refused to f-ck him. The plaintiff is some famous German "playboy," - and you really owe it to yourself to Google Image search "Rolf Eden," just to see the sort of guy that actually feels he is so entitled to sex he thinks it's his legal right.

Eden filed suit, because despite an extravagant night on the town with Eden, which ended back at his place, she refused to have sex with him, saying the he was too old for her.

"That was shattering. No woman has ever said that to me before," Eden told the tabloid. "I was crushed." He has filed charges with the prosecutors' office, he said. "After all, there are laws against discrimination."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,513579,00.html

Bianca Jagger: Homeless

$4600 a month is rent stabilized?

A New York appeals court ruled on Thursday that a landlord can evict Bianca Jagger from her Park Avenue apartment because of her immigration status.The former wife of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger has lived in the rent-stabilized apartment for some 20 years and argued that it was her primary residence and her landlord should be barred from evicting her.

A British citizen who was born in Nicaragua, Jagger is in the United States on a B-2 tourist visa. Her lawyer, Ryan Goldstein, had argued that a mold problem in the apartment had made it unlivable and that she had stopped paying the $4,614 a month rent in 2003. The landlord is nor free to rent the apartment out at "market value"...I can only imagine what that is.

http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN1839333220071018

UM Law Student Embarassment...

First and foremost, WHY did this law student sign up to be on a small claims reality show? Not for anything else, I simply cringed when the judge railed him... UM law student... anyone know him?

A Little Pat on the Back

My first published decision! Not that anyone wants a copy for their fridge, but you can find me at Welt v. Chub Cay Club Associates, Ltd. (In re Patrick Power Corp.), 2007 Bankr. LEXIS 3384 (Bankr. S.D. Fla. 2007). Anyone interested in further understanding the standard to disqualify counsel in Florida... holla.

Perez Is On A Roll...

Two lawsuits at one time against Perez...figured it would catch up at some time. First Amendment issues... wouldn't it be interesting if a case like this went all the way to the Supreme Court? Alright, I'm the only one that thinks it would be interesting.

A judged cleared the way Wednesday for Perez Hilton to be questioned about his report claiming Lindsay Lohan's friend planted cocaine found in the actress's car after a crash.
Samantha Ronson has sued Perez Hilton for defamation after he repeated a report that first appeared on the Web site CelebrityBabylon.com.

"I am not now and have never been a drug user," Ronson stated in a supplemental declaration filed with the court on Monday. "I have never handled or touched cocaine. I did not ever place any cocaine at any place at any time."

According to the lawsuit, both postings defamed Ronson by stating she planted drugs that were found in Lohan's car after it crashed into a tree in Beverly Hills on May 26, and that she set up her friend to be photographed while under the influence of alcohol.
Superior Court Judge Elihu M. Berle said Ronson's attorneys can take a four-hour deposition from Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira. Hilton's attorney, Bryan J. Freedman, said that his client made sure the information was "accurate and trustworthy" before he published his report. "He stands by his actions as being legal and proper and believes that the First Amendment protects him," Freedman said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301142,00.html

Ooops...I Participated In Copyright Infringement Again...

I'm sure 1/2 the world would just like Perez to get punched for either the unflattering pics he posts or those stinging comments... but Music label Zomba sued PerezHilton.com for copyright infringement on Thursday, saying the gossip Web site illegally posted recordings by pop singer Britney Spears. (You remember, I'm sure... I played all of them admittedly)... The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles Thursday, accused the Web site and its proprietor, Mario Lavandeira, of illegally obtaining and posting at least 10 completed songs and unfinished demos.

I personally think it would be good for business... but then again, some of those songs were pretty terrible. Truthfuly, I probably would have purchased the album without listening to it...

Off topic, Perez is one unattractive dude.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21255700/

An Oversalted Burger Is a Crime - Literally

A police officer threw a McDonald's employee in jail for oversalting her burger. I think the real question is- WHY DID THE COP EAT IT? It's obviously too salty. She couldn't turn her ass around to get another burger?

A McDonald’s employee spent a night in jail and is facing criminal charges because a police officer’s burger was too salty, so salty that he says it made him sick. Kendra Bull was arrested Friday, charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct and freed on $1,000 bail. City public information officer George Louth said Bull was charged because she served the burger “without regards to the well-being of anyone who might consume it.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20677230/

Paris Sues Hallmark

This is kind of interesting... I'm just kind of weirded out that a company as big as hallmark didn't ask for rights to use her image... like did anyone think, "Hey, we should probably ask Paris Hilton if we can use her or her likeness on this card?" Legal Team: No, just do it. Who cares? I doubt she can read.

Finding a card with a skinny, cartoon blonde with a photo of her face over it, and the phrase “that’s hot,” wasn’t a Hallmark moment for Paris Hilton. In fact, Hilton has filed a lawsuit against the greeting card giant.
Hilton is suing for commercial appropriation of her identity, invasion of privacy, misappropriation of publicity and false designation of origin under the Lanham Act.
In Hilton’s lawsuit, the heiress claims “a photograph of Ms. Hilton’s face is superimposed over a cartoon of a waitress serving food to a patron, along with the dialogue: ‘Don’t touch that, it’s hot. What’s hot? That’s Hot.’”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20649019/

Blog: Lis and The Single Girl

I just came across this and this is her blog tagline "Single and fabulous? Well then this is the column for you! Ever wish you had your own personal Carrie Bradshaw to answer your questions — not just about what to do if your boyfriend dumps you via text message — but serious issues that confront us?" Then they call her Carrie with a law degree. This column isn't even that good.

Anyways, looking through the archive, it seems she answers questions re: prenuptials, alimony, etc... Maybe I'm just a hater, I would love to sit home all day and blog about ONE question.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294955,00.html

China Barbie

What do you think? Don't you think that it is strange that Mattel didn't say anything when the "Barbie Twins" came out?

Toy maker Mattel Inc. went to court Tuesday to declare that the name of its clean-cut Barbie dolls doesn't belong on a model's pornographic Web site.

China Barbie's site says she's a "cordial young lady" who sat behind the desks of some of the world's leading investment banking firms and advertising agencies in New York before getting into porn. It says her filmography includes "Me Luv You Long Time," "Ethnic Cheerleaders 8" and "Passport to Paradise."

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/mattel-sues-over-porno-barbie/20070822064909990001